For a quantitative analysis of SOC dynamics it is necessary to trace the origins of the soil organic compounds and the pathways of their transformations. We used the 13C isotope to determine the incorporation of maize residues into the soil organic carbon (SOC), to trace the origin of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and to quantify the fraction of the maize C in the soil respiration. The maize‐derived SOC was quantified in soil samples collected to a depth of 65 cm from two plots, one ’︁continuous maize’ and the other ’︁continuous rye’ (reference site) from the long‐term field experiment ’︁Ewiger Roggen’ in Halle. This field trial was established in 1878 and was partly changed to a continuous maize cropping system in 1961. Production rates and δ13C of DOC and CO2 were determined for the Ap horizon in incubation experiments with undisturbed soil columns. After 37 years of continuous maize cropping, 15% of the total SOC in the topsoil originated from maize C. The fraction of the maize‐derived C below the ploughed horizon was only 5 to 3%. The total amount of maize C stored in the profile was 9080 kg ha−1 which was equal to about 31% of the estimated total C input via maize residues (roots and stubble). Total leaching of DOC during the incubation period of 16 weeks was 1.1 g m−2 and one third of the DOC derived from maize C. The specific DOC production rate from the maize‐derived SOC was 2.5 times higher than that from the older humus formed by C3 plants. The total CO2‐C emission for 16 weeks was 18 g m−2. Fifty‐eight percent of the soil respiration originated from maize C. The specific CO2 formation from maize‐derived SOC was 8 times higher than that from the older SOC formed by C3 plants. The ratio of DOC production to CO2‐C production was three times smaller for the young, maize‐derived SOC than for the older humus formed by C3 plants.
The Pannonian region is situated in the Carpathian basin where forests have been used intensively for centuries. The article shows a map and a tabular overview of the forest reserves featured as forests ''left for free development'' of the region, and presents the most important stand structural characteristics of beech, mesophytic and thermophilous deciduous forests surveyed recently. The sampling points of six sites were selected to provide preliminary descriptive statistics according to the main types and abandonment status groups (recently managed, long abandoned and old-growth or primary stands) of these forests. In oldgrowth and primary stands the composition (list and mixture ratio of tree species) and stand structure characteristics [gap class distribution, stem density, distribution of relative crown classes and broad diameter at breast height (at 130 cm) classes, density of thick snags, and the amount of lying dead wood] proved to be similar to other European deciduous natural forests, while the abandoned and recently managed stands indicate that these forests are in a transitional stage towards natural ones.
Wood-burning power plants and heating plants produce a great amount of wood ash as a by-product of the combustion process. In 2009 we launched an experiment in which we examined the composition of ash, the nutrient supplying capacity of soil mixed with ash, and the availability of its constituents. In the spring of 2010, we conducted small plot experiments using wood ash applications equivalent to 0; 1; 2.5; 5 and 10 t of wood ash/ha, on slightly acidic clay loam soil using white mustard and rye grass as the test plants. The pH value of the soil rose in a statistically verifiable way as a result of the ash treatments. After the application of ash, the P2O5 and K2O-content of the soil rose significantly; the treatments also increased the magnesium and sulphur content of the arable soil as well as the level of Zinc among the microelements. However, none of the wood ash applications caused verifiable changes in the number of shoots, in the green mass, or in the height of test plants. The increased nutrient supply of the soil through the treatments was not reflected in the nutrient content of the plants during the first year.
The dynamics of C and N in terrestrial ecosystems are not completely understood and the use of stable isotopes may be useful to gain further insight in the pathways of CO2 emissions and leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) during decomposition of litter. Objectives were (i) to study the decomposition dynamics of Calamagrostis epigeios, a common grass species in forests, using 13C-depleted and 15N-enriched plants and (ii) to quantify the effect wood ash addition on the decomposition and leaching of DOC and DON. Decomposition was studied for 128 days under aerobic conditions at 8 degrees C and moisture close to field capacity in a spodic dystric Cambisol with mor-moder layer. Variants included control plots and additions of (i) Calamagrostis litter and (ii) Calamagrostis litter plus 4 kg ash m-2. (i) Decomposition of Calamagrostis resulted in a CO2 production of 76.2 g CO2-C m-2 (10% of added C) after 128 days and cumulative DOC production was 14.0 g C m-2 out of which 0.9 g C m-2 was Calamagrostis-derived (0.1% of added C). The specific CO2 formation and specific DOC production from Calamagrostis were 6 times higher (CO2) and 4 times smaller (DOC) than those from the organic layer. The amount of Calamagrostis-derived total N (NH4+, NO3-, DON) leached was 0.7 g N m-2 (4.8% of added N). Cumulative DON production was 0.8 g N m-2 which was slightly higher than for the control. During soil passage, much of the DOC and DON was removed due to sorption or decomposition. DOC and DON releases from the mineral soil (17 cm depth) were 6.3 g C m-2 and 0.5 g N m-2. (ii) Addition of ash resulted in a complete fixing of CO2 for 40 days due to carbonatisation. Afterwards, the CO2 production rates were similar to the variant without ash addition. Production of DOC (98.6 g C m-2) and DON (2.5 g N m-2) was marked, mainly owing to humus decay. However, Calamagrostis-derived DOC and Calamagrostis-derived total N were only 3.9 g C m-2 (0.5% of added C) and 0.5 g N m-2 (3.4% of added N). The specific DOC production rate from the organic layer was 6 times higher than that from Calamagrostis. The results suggest that with increasing humification from fresh plant residues to more decomposed material (OF and OH layers) the production ratio of DOC/CO2-C increases. Addition of alkaline substances to the forest floor can lead to a manifold increase in DOC production.
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in seepage water can combine with organic pollutants, with Al and heavy metal ions and transport them through the soil profile with a potential to contaminate groundwater. We studied the production of DOC in aerobic decomposition experiments at 8 °C and moisture close to field capacity in soils from two sites with different microbial activities (spodic dystric Cambisols with moder (SLB) and mor‐moder (SLS) layers) using 13C‐depleted plants of differing decomposability (Epilobium angustifolium and Calamagrostis epigeios). Additionally, we investigated the DOC transformation during soil passage in decomposition experiments and in the field for the sites SLB and SLS. For SLS, decomposition of Epilobium resulted in a cumulative CO2 production of 14% of the added C within 128 days. Priming effects were negligible. CO2 production for the experiments using Calamagrostis was less with 11% for SLB and 10% for SLS. Cumulative DOC production was markedly high in the Epilobium decomposition experiment, being 25 g m–2, out of which 11 g m–2 were Epilobium‐derived (2% of the added C). For the Calamagrostis experiments, cumulative productions of DOC and Calamagrostis‐derived DOC (0.1% of the added C for SLS and SLB) were much less. During the soil passage, much of the DOC was removed by sorption or decomposition processes. Field studies at SLS and SLB using 13C natural abundance showed that 13C distribution of soil organic matter increased with depth, probably mainly due to a discrimination of C isotopes by decomposing microorganisms. DOC, however, showed a depletion of 13C from –28γ PDB to –29γ (SLB at 40 cm) or –28 to –30γ (SLS at 20 cm) with depth, owing to preferential decomposition of 13C‐enriched substances or preferential adsorption. This study indicates that DOC production is strongly affected by litter composition and that significant changes in DOC composition may occur during its passage through a soil depth of 40 cm.
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